Fish and Game Wardens
Patrol assigned area to prevent fish and game law violations. Investigate reports of damage to crops or property by wildlife. Compile biological data.
Also called: Fisheries Enforcement Officer · Game Warden · Natural Resource Officer · State Game Warden · State Wildlife Officer · Wildlife Conservation Officer
Median pay (national)
$68,180
$35,670–$94,470 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
6,420
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-6%
~500 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for fish and game wardens shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $94,470 versus $35,670 at the bottom 10% — 2.6x. The median of $68,180 leaves roughly 39% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -6% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 500 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 36 states with released data, Washington pays the most for this role (median $115,400, +69% vs the national median), while Florida sits lowest at $32,760 — a 252% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
Tailor your resume to Fish and Game Wardens
Honest tailoring
See how your resume lines up with Fish and Game Wardens
Refit re-angles your real experience toward this role using the skills above — and never invents skills you don't have. A no-fabrication gate checks every change before you see it.
Free. No account needed to see your first re-fit.
Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Science
- Mathematics
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Patrol assigned areas by car, boat, airplane, horse, or on foot to enforce game, fish, or boating laws or to manage wildlife programs, lakes, or land.
- Compile and present evidence for court actions.
- Investigate hunting accidents or reports of fish or game law violations.
- Issue warnings or citations and file reports as necessary.
- Serve warrants and make arrests.
- Provide assistance to other local law enforcement agencies as required.
- Promote or provide hunter or trapper safety training.
- Participate in search-and-rescue operations.
- Arrange for disposition of fish or game illegally taken or possessed.
- Seize equipment used in fish and game law violations.
Tools & technology
- Puppet
- Swift
- Database software
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Mapping software
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Law and Government
- Public Safety and Security
- Biology
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Geography
- Sociology and Anthropology